| "Beyond the Pale" | |||
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Tuesday 20th May 2002 As she made her way to SH1 that morning, after her session with Paige at the pool, she had hummed along with the music playing on the CD, currently playing a soft jazz sound. Since her talks with both Paige and Jordan, clearing the air of guilt and the resumption of her name which gave her back her identity not to mention thanks to Michael who had given her back her life and reasons for going on. There was now only one more thing that she had to achieve before she could say that her future was secure. Since 3am she had lain awake, for a while she had tried anything, making a cup of chamomile tea, thinking of 100 things beginning with the letter S. Even her favourite, mentally building her ideal house hadn't worked and finally she had given up at 5am and went for a run. On her fifth lap of the track, she had started to let her mind wander and when the notion had filtered into her mind, she had come to a sudden stop. The tracker in her neck. She walked around the track in a small circle, allowing her muscles to cool down while she puzzled about what she could do about it. Despite Gray's words that it couldn't be removed, and Michael's assurances that it wasn't responsible for the drug introduced into her system, she wanted it out. Gray had actually said that the tracker "couldn't be removed yet" giving hope to the fact that it could be removed. She needed to talk to him, to persuade him that this was the right time, and would be beneficial to her `mental' state, but first she had work to do. The second session with Paige at the pool went well, she was patient, and encouraging, even persuading her that the water was her friend, not an enemy. To Saf this was strange, she could swim alright when she needed to, but hated feeling the water covering her face. Paige took her back to basics, making her float on her back on top of the water, allowing it to give her support. By the end of the 2 hour session she had managed to dip under the water, albeit only for a moment, but it was a breakthrough, although she felt as though it were more to do with Paige's teaching than her courage. She showered and changed, before returning home in the early morning sunshine and over a leisurely lemon and ginger tea she mulled over how to approach Gray with her request. By 8.30 she had reached a decision and changed into a grey suit, together with a crisp white shirt. It looked cool and professional and with her hair neatly secured, she knew that Gray would be slightly intimidated. SH1 11.00hrs Gray had been in his office, surrounded by paperwork as she had tapped politely on his door. Perversely she had got a kick out of the way that he had paled at the sight of her, though she had composed her face so that it was expressionless, which gave him no idea as to her mood; then she had smiled and asked if he were free. Flustered, he had agreed and she had taken a seat in front of his desk and proposed that the neck tracker be removed. At first he hadn't replied, and she had sat silently, waiting for his response. The time passed by slowly, but she had patience, this was important to her, and by remaining calm she hoped that Gray would also recognise that fact. Finally he nodded, "I am going to have to discuss this with Rebecca," she continued to say nothing, and he stumbled on, "but I will get you an answer as soon as I can." When she spoke, she was concise, "You will arrange for it to be removed, I will not tolerate its presence any longer than I have to. It serves no usual purpose." She was not in a mood to be argued with, she had debated this issue for a while before reaching her decision. If Gray wouldn't help her, then Paige would; and sod the consequences. Gray simply stared at her, she in turn looked coolly back before she said, "It's not up for discussion. I don't care how many strings you have to pull, I can't and won't live with it in me." His response was to say nothing for a moment, then he stood up, "Wait here," and then he was gone, presumably to Rebecca's office. Saf relaxed a fraction, it was beginning; escape to freedom. She waited for a few minutes, wondering whether Rebecca had been monitoring their conversation, she knew if she was her, she would have feeds from everywhere including Gray's office. If she did, then she was pre-warned of what Saf was requesting, and if she wanted to start building trust, this was the way to do it. With minimal costs and maximum gains; providing an agent who would give as much as necessary to do the job. Gray returned with Rebecca in tow, Saf tried to gauge what their response would be, but Rebecca was masking her face well, though Saf had a positive feeling. 12.30hrs Success was a glorious feeling, to be treasured. As of 40 mins ago she had a green light, she was due on a flight at 21.30hrs out of JFK, arriving local time at midnight. A car would meet her and take her to Section 1 where Gideon and Michael were waiting to remove the device and then a flight back at 07.00hrs out of Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport. One of the other conditions was that she should tell no-one of where she was going and when she came back, she still had a few days leave so the wound would heal without attracting comment. She had agreed to the conditions, accepting them as part of the agreement, she wasn't concerned by the idea of travel back to back, anything which provided her with a means to an end. Rebecca had given her a long look before she spoke again, "I am placing my trust in you. Please prove me right to do so." Saf had simply stated, "You won't be sorry." Wednesday 21st May 2008 00.30hrs The flight had been uneventful, she had catnapped in her seat, refusing food and drink other than some bottled water. She had only hand luggage and therefore was out through customs before most people had got their luggage. Outside the airport, was the meeting point and a man holding a plate with her name on, or rather the name she had rejected, Sara Churchill; she had agreed to travel using this name, for the last time. She didn't recognise him, but it was her ride, and when she identified herself, he opened the limo door and ushered her in. Michael was waiting for her. He kissed her on the cheek, an openly friendly gesture, and she was shocked, she had expected him to be his usual cool and reserved; but perhaps their relationship had given them a new closeness. "Welcome back, even if it is only unofficial," he smiled, his teeth white and even, "I can see you are doing well. How are things?" Surprisingly she didn't feel she wanted to confide in him, once more she had crossed boundaries and feeling a little uncomfortable she replied, "Thank you for agreeing," his friendly expression faded, as his face became inscrutable. She was sorry that she had been the cause of his remoteness, but being here, now, was like turning the clock back and she was just a little afraid that this was a trick and she wouldn't be returned to NY. The journey through the streets was silent; Saf was lost in her own thoughts. When they entered the garage, and descended through the levels, she wondered how long this procedure would take. Section hadn't changed, it even smelt the same. Cold and cheerless; a world away from her new life. The car had deposited them at the medsection van access and Michael escorted her to a small procedures room, close to the exit, Dr Gideon was waiting for them. Despite her eating like a horse, the exercise she was doing had meant that the weight had continued to drop off and she knew she was thin and gaunt. Dr Gideon's smile had faded when he had seen her, and Michael headed him off, "Later, we don't have long before she has to leave." And with that he turned and left, she felt as though she had lost something, but she knew this wasn't where she needed to be. But he had confirmed that they were planning on letting her go, her heart bounded and she couldn't resist a big smile, "Let's get on with it, the sooner its out, the happier I will be." She stripped down to the waist, and put on the gown Dr Gideon was holding. He started to explain the procedure, but she told him straight, "I don't need the details; I just want to see it out." He turned her to face him, "It's not without risks. If I can't get it out easily, you risk paralysis or even death." He paused waiting for her to change her mind, but she had known from its placement, the risks she was taking. "Just do your best, that's all I ask." He numbed the area surrounding the tracker, and the couch was adjusted so that her head was tilted giving better access to him. He taped her head and strapped her to the couch, just in case she moved and she felt like a trussed chicken. He did the surgery on his own, and apart from a quiet muttering, she had no idea of how well it was progressing. She closed her eyes, and let her imagination take her flying. The sedative Dr Gideon had given her was making her feel very light headed, and she regretted having agreed to take it. The last time she had spent anytime here was after immersion, and she had been so angry, with everything and everyone and she had been determined to bring Section to it's knees; and to a certain extent she had though not quite in the way she had expected. She had left something here, that she planned to collect, and she needed some time to find out whether it was still where she had left it. A sharp pain radiating through her neck, made her stir. She was glad of the straps then, for she knew that this was the crucial moment, and that any movement however involuntary, would have been dangerous. She relaxed the now tense muscles, and felt the hands of Gideon on her shoulder, "Not long now, just one more screw." Her eyes opened, screw? The tracker was screwed in to her neck? Shit, no wonder he was concerned at having to remove it. He was right, it wasn't much longer, but the pain this time was more intense, and despite the numbing agent and the sedative, it was lancing through her neck like fire and she couldn't help but groan at the intensity. Gideon, murmured, "Good sign, feelings are still there. Wriggle your toes," he paused while she complied, "and now your fingers. No don't try to move your head just yet. Fine." He patted her on the shoulder, "Should be fine. Though you might have a bit of a headache and I don't want to give you anything more than what you had already." "Fine," her tones were curt, she was still in pain and he hadn't sutured the incision yet. "Relax, it makes sewing much easier," he requested and she felt the tugging sensation that told her he had begun. After that it was just a few more minutes before he put a sterile dressing over the wound and then fitted a soft collar to give her some protection. "You are all done. You can get dressed now." He undid the straps and tapes and she moved, holding her head. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Feel a bit light-headed." She muttered. "Rest then, you have time. I'll be back in 30 mins." He picked up the tray of surgical instruments and the tray containing the now ex-tracker and left her alone. She checked her watch, it was now 03.05hrs, in a little under two hours she had to check in for her flight; which meant that she only had this window of opportunity to find the item. She dressed in a pair of grey lycra overalls she had brought in her bag, perfect for blending in on the walls of Section one, though if she still had her skills she would be invisible. She brought the cap up over her hair, wincing at the pain this caused in her neck as she had removed the collar so recently fitted. Then standing on the couch, she lifted a ceiling panel and reached up, clasping the support structures, she put the timer on and moved as quickly as she could. Progress was slow to start with, but as she made her way across to the wall, and found a route into the access channels, it became faster. Now she could afford to be more noisy, for the channels were a honeycomb and most operatives never bothered to look behind the panels. She had only discovered them when she was doing some work for Birkoff, and he had shown her the different cables running behind the walls. After that, she tested out her sniffer devices though thanks to Sean, they were long since gone. But she had one more secret, and that is what she was after now. She had to climb to level 2, where she had left it, and even then, she had a job finding it. Wondering at first whether it had been found, she cast around her with the small torch, and finally found it on the floor, the glue holding it to the wall had long since given way. The plastic box was rigged to look as though it was part of the wall fitting and on the floor it looked out of place, but undiscovered. She didn't have time to check it now, she need to get back so she tucked it down her overall, and headed back to the med section. She returned the way she had come, and replaced the ceiling tile and the overalls and folding them around the container she put them in her bag. The collar she put back on as well as the gown and none too soon because a few moments after she had done so, the door opened to reveal Michael. Return |
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